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28 Jul 2012

Reek Sunday 2012

Psalm 121: God the Help of Those Who Seek Him

A Song of Ascents.

I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help?2 My help comes from the Lord,Who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not allow your foot to be moved;He who keeps you will not slumber.4 Behold, He who keeps IsraelShall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lordis your keeper;The Lordis your shade at your right hand.6 The sun shall not strike you by day,Nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;He shall preserve your soul.8 The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming inFrom this time forth, and even forevermore.

Tomorrow, being the last Sunday in the month of July is "Reek Sunday", the day traditionally associated with the climbing of one of Ireland's holy mountains, Croagh Patrick in Co Mayo.

The tradition of pilgrimage to this holy mountain stretches back over 5,000 years from the Stone Age to the present day without interruption. Its religious significance dates back to the time of the pagans, when people are thought to have gathered here to celebrate the beginning of harvest season.

Croagh Patrick is renowned for its Patrician Pilgrimage in honour of Saint Patrick, Ireland's patron saint. It was on the summit of the mountain that Saint Patrick fasted for forty days in 441 AD and the custom has been faithfully handed down from generation to generation.

Close to 30,000 pilgrims are expected to take part in the annual Reek Sunday pilgrimage this weekend on Ireland's holy mountain, Croagh Patrick, which is in the Archdiocese of Tuam.

The pilgrimage has been carried out uninterrupted on Reek Sunday, the last Sunday in July for over 1,500 years.

The Croagh Patrick pilgrimage is associated with St Patrick who, in 441, spent 40 days and nights fasting on the summit, following the example of Christ and Moses. The name 'Reek Sunday' comes from Patrick's ability to Christianise many pagan customs including the festival of Lughnasa, which previously had heralded the start of the harvest festival honouring the ancient pagan god Lugh, whose name is encompassed in the Irish word for August - Lughnasa.

The festival's tradition became absorbed into the new Christian beliefs and locally became known as Domhnach na Cruaiche (Reek Sunday).

As in previous years, the climb of Croagh Patrick will be led by the Archbishop of Tuam Most Rev Michael Neary. This year he will be accompanied by the newly appointed Papal Nuncio to Ireland Cardinal Charles Browne. Cardinal Browne (52) stated when he was appointed in January of this year that he, “wished to get to know more about Ireland,” and it is believed that his decision to make the climb is in keeping with that promise.

According to the diocese of Tuam, Mass will be celebrated at the summit at 8:00am and every half-hour thereafter until the last Mass at 2:00pm.

The Papal Nuncio will celebrate the 9:30pm at Saint Patrick's Oratory at the summit of the mountain while the 10:00am Mass will be celebrated in Irish by Fr Jim Walsh.

Archbishop Neary will celebrate Mass at 10:30am.

Pilgrims may avail of the Sacrament of Reconciliation on the summit from 7:30am to 2:30pm.

Mayo Mountain rescue service are asking all those who intend to climb to come prepared for the current weather conditions, to bring suitable warm and waterproof clothing, good footwear, a walking stick or staff, and water, and to be mindful of the safety of themselves and other pilgrims.

Meanwhile ahead of the climb, the parish priest of Westport Fr Charlie McDonnell has revealed that a Conservation Plan on the future use of Croagh Patrick has started.

“We are the custodians of Croagh Patrick for future generations and I must say that there is an element of recklessness in its present use. But this is not about apportioning blame. The various partners need to sit down, and this has already started, and make a future plan for its conservation and sustainability.”

He added, “I think everyone who uses the mountain needs to respect its Christian and pre-Christian heritage. If you look back at old photographs to the 1950's there is one clear path going up the mountain. Now it looks like a hodgepodge of many different paths.”

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Prayer before reading and reflecting on Scripture

Lord, we thank you for putting us in the presence of your Word which you inspired in your prophets. May we approach this Word reverently, humbly and attentively. May we not despise this Word, but receive all it has to say to us. We know that our hearts are closed, often incapable of comprehending the simplicity of your Word. Send your Spirit to us so that receiving the Word in truth and simplicity, our lives may be transformed by it.
Let us not be resistant, Lord; may your Word penetrate us like a two edged sword; may our hearts be open to it; let not our eyes be closed, nor our minds wander, but may we give ourselves entirely to this listening. We ask this Father, in union with Mary who used to recite the psalms, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

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